Since I don’t bake except at Christmas, these chocolate chip cookies are Christmas cookies

I don’t even know if chocolate chip cookies can be considered Christmas cookies, but since I only bake in December, these are Christmas cookies to me.

My mother-in-law makes the absolute best chocolate chip cookies in the world and this is NOT the recipe.  Never fear!  This recipe is the second absolute best chocolate chip cookie recipe in the world.

Lets bake, shall we?  It is December after all.

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Christmas cookie (adapted from Southern Living’s 40 Years of our Best Recipes)

1/2 C Shortening
1/2 C Butter
3/4 C firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 C granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 (3.4 oz.) package vanilla instant pudding mix
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 1/4  C All-purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 (12 0z.) package semisweet chocolate morsels, mini chips if you can find those
1 1/2 C chopped pecans
1 C uncooked quick-cooking oats

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Beat together shortening and butter with an electric mixer until creamy.  Add sugars gradually, beating well.  Add eggs and beat well.  Add pudding mix and vanilla until blended.

2.  Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, then gradually add to the butter mixture.  Beat until well blended.  Stir in the remaining ingredients until evenly distributed.

3.  Place heaping tablespoons of dough on lightly greased cookie sheets and press to 1-inch thickness.

4.  Bake for 10-12 minutes and cool on wire racks.

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Please visit Edie at Lifeingrace for more fantastic Christmas cookie recipes during her Great Christmas Cookie Freeze party!